In the blood : a memoir of my childhood

'A wonderful read.' Irish Times'Sad, gripping and powerful.' Margaret Drabble'Superbly clear, intimate and evocative.' New York TimesFrom the former poet laureate, Andrew Motion, In the Blood is an unforgettable evocation of family, school and country life.

By turns funny, heartbreaking and elegiac, it is also a deeply affectionate portrait of the bond between mother and son. 'Brilliantly achieved and novel-like . . . Vivid and poignant.' Guardian'The most moving and exquisitely written account of childhood loss I have ever read.' Independent on Sunday'Deeply engaging.

The innocence and the hardness of childhood are beautifully put together . . . A strikingly good book, framed by tragedy but full of intense life.' Helen Dunmore'Every word, sentence and chapter, one drinks down with a joy because it is so artfully and beautifully composed.' Irish Times